Steven Croft has thrown his hat into the ring to become the next captain of Lancashire.

Steven Croft has thrown his hat into the ring to become the next captain of Lancashire.

Although Glen Chapple is certain to continue in the role next season, he admits himself at the age of 38 he only has a few playing years left.

Croft looks to be next in line. After being given the job as skipper during last season’s Twenty20 campaign, he guided Lightning to finals days.

And he got his first taste of captaining in a Championship match last week when Chapple sat out the final game of the season against Surrey at Aigburth.

The all-rounder underlined his status at the club last night as he became only the second player in Lancashire’s history to win the Player of the Year award twice.

The only other player to do so is Chapple, who has won the prize three times.

Croft also walked away with the One-day Player of the Year honour, with his performances this season earning him a call-up to England’s provisional 30-man squad for the World Twenty20.

“It has had its ups and downs this season, but I feel I am going in the right direction,” said Croft, who has scored 1,492 runs in all competitions this year as well as claiming career-best bowling figures of 6-41 with his ever-improving off-spin.

“I am developing each year and am quite pleased with my performance this season.

“I also feel I am now ready to captain the side in the Championship, although I know Glen has a bit of time left in him yet.

“I felt comfortable captaining in the CB40 and Twenty20 and the game against Surrey last week has given me a bit more experience just in case I am thrown in next year at any stage if Glen was injured.

“I definitely would like to do the job once Chappie retires, if the club want me too.”

Croft hit the winning runs at Taunton last September to seal the club’s first outright County Championship title in 77 years.

He was heralded as one of a number of young Lancastrians who made such an impact on the season. But Croft turns 28 next month and is now one of the senior members of the squad. Jim Cumbes right to worry over game’s future

nd he is enjoying the responsibility of guiding the new breed of Red Rose players like Alex Davies and Tom Bailey, who made their first-class debuts for the club against Surrey.

“I was on the ‘old’ side for the football team during the warm-up last week,” he revealed. “It hits home then that I am getting on a bit. I still scored a hat-trick though!

“You try and show the young lads what first-class cricket is all about and you want to become a role model and help them develop.

“We haven’t performed to our potential this year and we all know that if these young players are around and doing well in the second team, it makes the club stronger and makes competition for places more intense.”

Croft made his first-class debut in 2005 – the only year Lancashire have spent in Division Two of the Championship, until next season that is.

And he knows the pressure will be on the club to bounce straight back up.

“Relegation is really going to hit home, especially in April when we start in Division Two,” he said. “We want to be in there for as short a time as possible.

“It has hurt us all, and everyone’s goal is to get out of that division.

“Everyone will expect us to come straight back up, and with the squad we have we should do.

“We need to put in some good performances early next season and prove everyone who doubted us this season wrong.”

Chapple picked up the Championship Player of the Year award last night, while spinner Simon Kerrigan took the Young Player of the Year.

Tom Smith’s 44-ball CB40 century against Worcestershire was selected as Champagne Moment of the season.